What happens if you have lipo and skin removal and the upper arm becomes smaller than your forearm?

Ideally your plastic surgeon would recognize the need before the surgery to reduce the forearm as well. You should find a surgeon who does a ton of upper extremity contouring and is comfortable knowing beforehand if you'll also need forearm reduction to make sure you dont end up with Popeye arms. We reduce the forearms all the time. It's hard to hide the scar and many surgeons are uncomfortable with the forearm anatomy, but removing skin is fine to do and some people need the forearm liposuctioned and skin removed.

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to meet and discuss your concerns! The whole arm should be taken into account when the surgeon is forming a surgical plan. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

In the situation you're describing (assuming there is adequate fat to remove) liposuction can be performed to achieve better balance/proportion between the forearm and upper arm. Typically a surgeon will take into account the size of your forearm and try to match the upper arm to that when performing the brachioplasty.

Although this can be a possibility, it is unlikely. The reason is the muscles in the upper arm like biceps and triceps are much larger than all of the numerous muscles and structures in the forearm. The lipo and arm lift is a contouring procedure that removes skin and fat only to restore normal, anatomic shape of the upper arms. Of course, proportions matter, and there is an element of artistry & craftsmanship that goes into planning the surgery to ensure that your arms won't look weird after the surgery.

Thank you for your query. The situation you are referring to is extremely unlikely. However, if it happens, the situation will need to be handled based on the reason for the problem. After the skin had some time to settle down, some muscle building exercises can be recommended, and if excessive fat has been removed, some fat grafting may help. Liposuction of the fore-arm will be an unlikely option especially if the skin is a little loose. Please find an experienced board certified Plastic surgeon who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best!

This is an interesting question as it could happen. How would you keep your risk low? By selecting an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for your procedure. During a consultation your surgeon would examine you and discuss your goals for surgery. Open communication is key in helping you to achieve the desired result.

This is a very smart and important question to ask, especially if you’re considering or planning arm liposuction and brachioplasty. Here’s a detailed, honest look at what could happen and how it’s usually addressed:
Hypothetically, if the upper arm becomes smaller than the forearm after lipo and brachioplasty:
Yes, it could happen—especially in individuals with significant volume loss in the upper arms (due to fat removal and skin excision) and relatively thicker or muscular forearms. The result could be a disproportion where the upper arm appears slimmer than the forearm, which can look visually unbalanced or even unnatural.
Would a plastic surgeon notice this possibility ahead of time?
A good, experienced plastic surgeon absolutely should recognize this as a potential outcome during your consultation and surgical planning. Surgeons routinely assess body proportions—especially for procedures like brachioplasty, which affect contour and symmetry.
That said:
• Every surgeon has different approaches to how aggressively they reduce tissue.
• If you don’t bring up your concern, they may not prioritize forearm/upper arm proportion unless it's visibly obvious pre-op.
• Some surgeons may prioritize getting rid of the excess skin and fat without fully considering how your forearms might appear afterward—so voicing this specific concern is a smart move on your part.
If it happens post-op, would you need another procedure?
Potentially, yes, but only if the imbalance bothers you:
• Forearm liposuction is technically possible but more delicate. There are more tendons, veins, and nerves closer to the surface, so surgeons are more conservative.
• Forearm lifts (skin excision) are very rare due to significant scarring and lower patient satisfaction—they’re typically only done in cases of massive weight loss.
• If your forearms are muscular or solid rather than fatty, there may not be much you can do aside from building up your upper arms slightly (e.g., via fitness or fat grafting).
What can be done for the forearms?
If treatment is needed:
1. Mild liposuction may be an option for fat reduction, if your skin is elastic enough to retract on its own.
2. Laser-assisted lipo (e.g., Smart Lipo) or radiofrequency-assisted lipo (e.g., Body Tite) can help tighten the skin.
3. Surgical lift – Rarely done, but possible in extreme cases with a trade-off of visible scarring from wrist to elbow.
You should definitely consult a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in post-weight loss or body contouring procedures.